Seeking Solutions for African Americans

How many African Americans know that the president of the United States (POTUS) recently met with their leaders? How many among the African-American population know what the meeting agenda entailed, who was there, and what was accomplished at, or subsequent to, regarding our plight and problems?

Late Black History Month 2013, the POTUS had Blacks to a meeting at the White House in the Roosevelt Room. The president discussed his "plan to strengthen the economy ... and continue to build ladders of opportunity for those striving to get there." In perhaps the cruelest of ironies, the president praised the participants for their "steadfast leadership on issues critical to improving the economy."

Those in attendance included the Rev. Al Sharpton, National Action Network, NAACP President Ben Jealous, Avis Jones-DeWeever, executive director of the National Council of Negro Women along with Ralph Everett, president, Joint Center for Economic and Political Studies.

Everett and the Joint Center for Economic and Political Studies' role in Black life in America is worthy of attention. The Joint Center has had a leading role as a Washington think tank for almost half a century. Without admitting that the Obama presidency is no more than symbolic for Black Americans and that nearly every quality of life indicator shows that Blacks lost ground during the Obama years, Everett cast his lot with the rest of the sheep on their way to the slaughter and said: "The meeting was a positive, constructive exchange of views. The president fully understands the concerns of the African-American community and has set forth a sensible plan to continue America's economic recovery. We look forward to working with him to strengthen the economy for the middle class and continue to build more ladders of opportunity for those trying to get there."

Who is going to tell the "emperor" he has no clothes? The only notable item to come out of the meeting was the "staged" photo-ops. Nothing of substance regarding an agenda for African Americans was discussed. In his post-meeting statement, Sharpton commented, "I and other leaders had a very significant discussion with the president about concerns in the African-American community and the civil rights community in general."

Blacks can't see Obama's failings and are in discord over whether they should demand a more explicit commitment or refrain from doing so because it would weaken his appeal to others. The reverend insists that calling on Obama to be an "exponent of Black views" is "just stupid." But, the financial ills afflicting the Black community are more real than Sharpton & Company admit. The Black-White wealth disparity is more than 20 to 1, Black homeownership rates are declining, Blacks' unemployment rates are nearly double those for Whites, and Blacks' incomes are down. These discrepancies reflect a mixture of realism and low expectations. Has "a second-class" mentality taken hold of this generation of Black Americans? Blacks are doing worse than everyone else, yet the man they elected to turn things around for them hasn't; however, this has not fundamentally changed their view of American politics; almost every other Democratic president has failed them in similar ways.

Instead of devotion to White House deceptions, organizations such as the Joint Center can point Blacks in the right direction through program policy and leadership development practices. The Obama administration has little interest in supporting Blacks in the same ways it has gay and Latino groups. A Black agenda that addresses the serious problems that plague African Americans needs to be presented to Obama, rather than "picture taking moments" with POTUS.

William Reed is publisher of "Who's Who in Black Corporate America" and available for projects via the BaileyGroup.org